Composite microarray slides

Abstract

Improved composite microarray slides for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications are disclosed. Specifically, composite microarray slides useful for carrying a microarray of biological polymers on the surface thereof including composite microarray slides having a porous membrane formed by a phase inversion process effectively attached by covalent bonding through chemical agents that comprise anchor/linker moieties to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently bond to the porous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the composite microarray slides are covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating the composite microarray slides are also disclosed.

1 . A method of fabricating composite microarray slides useful for carrying a microarray of biological polymers comprising the acts of: 
 providing a non-porous substrate;    providing a microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process;    providing a surface treatment, wherein the surface treatment comprises organosilanes;    applying the surface treatment to the non-porous substrate; and    operatively associating the non-porous substrate having the surface treatment applied thereto with the microporous membrane for forming an attachment layer therebetween that when subjected to an organic solvent system for greater than about six hours, the microporous membrane does not delaminate significantly from the non-porous substrate, the non-porous substrate is sufficiently bonded to the microporous membrane to withstand challenging environments encountered in microarray applications.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the attachment layer covalently bonds the non-porous substrate and the microporous membrane.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the microporous membrane substantially covers the surface of the non-porous substrate.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying the surface treatment produces an attachment layer having minimal thickness.  
   
   
       5 . The surface treatment of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment layer is between about 0.1 to about 12 microns thick.  
   
   
       6 . The surface treatment of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment layer is between about 2 to about 5 microns thick.  
   
   
       7 . The surface treatment of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment layer is about 3 microns thick.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operatively associated of the non-porous substrate to the microporous membrane forms a uniform attachment layer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the attachment layer is applied to the non-porous substrate producing a minimal finite thickness or mass which adds uniformity to the overall thickness of the composite microarray slide.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying the attachment layer at least substantially eliminates nonuniformity of the overall thickness of the substrate/membrane combination structure.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing a microporous membrane containing a sufficient amount of pigments.    
   
   
       12 . The microporous membrane of  claim 11  wherein the pigments comprise: 
 carbon-black.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the microporous membrane, prior to being operatively associated with the non-porous substrate, is wet-as-cast.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane, prior to being operatively associated with the non-porous substrate, is substantially dry.  
   
   
       15 . The microporous membrane of  claim 1  wherein the microporous membrane is asymmetric.  
   
   
       16 . The microporous membrane of  claim 1  wherein the microporous membrane is symmetric.  
   
   
       17 . The composite microarray slide of  claim 1  wherein the presence of the attachment layer results in minimal interference in the binding of the biological polymer.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the presence of the attachment layer results in minimal interference the detection of the biological polymers.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when subjected to 4×SSC at about 60° C. for greater than about 10 hours, the microporous membrane does not delaminate significantly from the non-porous substrate.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when subjected to 4×SSC at about 60° C. for about 2 weeks, the microporous membrane does not delaminate significantly from the non-porous substrate.